Localization of cerebral activity during simple singing

Neuroreport. 1999 Dec 16;10(18):3979-84. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199912160-00046.

Abstract

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured with PET during rudimentary singing of a single pitch and vowel, contrasted to passive listening to complex tones. CBF increases in cortical areas related to motor control were seen in the supplementary motor area, anterior cingulate cortex, precentral gyri, anterior insula (and the adjacent inner face of the precentral operculum) and cerebellum, replicating most previously seen during speech. Increases in auditory cortex were seen within right Heschl's gyrus, and in the posterior superior temporal plane (and the immediately overlying parietal cortex). Since cortex near right Heschl's has been linked to complex pitch perception, its asymmetric activation here may be related to analyzing the fundamental frequency of one's own voice for feedback-guided modulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Auditory Cortex / blood supply
  • Auditory Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Behavior / physiology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Cortex / blood supply
  • Motor Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Music*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Visual Cortex / blood supply
  • Visual Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Visual Cortex / physiology
  • Voice / physiology*